Samgyeopsal is delicious no matter when you eat it, but if you choose it properly, grill it well, and eat it with the perfect combination, the taste will change several times.
If you want to enjoy samgyeopsal that is crispy on the outside and moist on the inside at home like you eat it at a meat restaurant?
Let's learn how to choose samgyeopsal → how to grill it → how to eat it deliciously.
1. How to choose delicious samgyeopsal!
The first thing to check when buying samgyeopsal is the ratio of fat to lean meat.
If there is too much fat, it will be greasy the more you eat it, and if there is only lean meat, it will be dry.
The ideal ratio is 2:3 or 1:1, and you need an appropriate amount of fat to enjoy a soft and moist texture.
The color of the meat is also important.
Fresh pork belly should have a bright red color of lean meat and a white fat.
If the fat is yellowish or the lean meat is too dark, it is likely old meat, so it is best to avoid it.
In addition, the thickness of the pork belly also affects the taste.
1~1.5cm is the most suitable thickness. If it is too thin, the meat juice will evaporate when grilled and it will become dry,
and if it is too thick, it will be difficult to cook the inside.
You should choose pork belly of the appropriate thickness to complete the texture that is crispy on the outside and moist on the inside.
2. Basic settings for eating pork belly deliciously
The most important thing to grill pork belly deliciously is to preheat the grill sufficiently.
If you place the meat on the grill when it is not hot, the meat juice will escape and it will become dry. After preheating for 2-3 minutes on high heat, place the meat without oiling it to grill the pork belly with a crispy outside and moist inside.
The basic setting to enjoy with the pork belly is also essential.
As wrap vegetables, prepare lettuce, perilla leaves, and water parsley,
and as side sauces, prepare ssamjang, doenjang, garlic, and pepper.
You can enjoy it even more deliciously by adding sweet and sour green onion rings, grilled kimchi, and doenjang stew.
Now that you have the perfect setting, let's grill it properly.
3. Grill the pork belly like this so it's crispy on the outside and moist on the inside!
In order to grill the pork belly deliciously, it is important to adjust the heat to high at first and medium-low heat when it's cooked.
If you grill it on high heat at first, the outside will cook quickly and lock in the meat juice,
and if you reduce the heat to medium-low and cook it evenly, you can create a crispy outside and moist inside texture.
It is best not to flip it too often.
It is best to cook it for 3-4 minutes per side and then flip it only once.
If you flip it too often, the meat juice will escape and it will become dry.
Cut the golden-grilled pork belly into bite-size pieces and cook it until crispy at the end over high heat.
You can maximize the savory flavor by grilling kimchi and
garlic together in the oil while grilling the pork belly.
Kimchi grilled sizzlingly in the pork belly oil adds a smoky flavor and savory flavor,
making it the best combination when eaten with meat.
When garlic is cooked in oil, its unique spicy flavor disappears and it becomes sweet and deep.
Now, let's learn how to enjoy perfectly grilled pork belly even more deliciously.
4. Pork belly, it tastes better when you eat it like this!
1. Eating as a wrap (the classic way to eat pork belly)
The most classic and delicious way to eat it is to wrap it in a wrap and eat it in one bite.
When wrapping it, the basic rule is to first lay down lettuce, then put perilla leaves on top, and then put a piece of grilled pork belly on top.
If you lightly add ssamjang, and add roasted garlic and crunchy peppers,
the savory taste of meat, the freshness of the wrap vegetables, and the salty savory taste of the ssamjang will come together to create the best harmony.
If you want to eat it more filling, add a spoonful of rice.
If you put rice in the wrap, the flavor of the wrap will be doubled, and you can feel a deeper taste as the pork belly and ssamjang mix with the rice.
If you put it in one mouthful, the crunchy texture of the wrap vegetables, the savory taste of the pork belly, and the savory taste of the ssamjang will come together to create a fantastic bite of pork belly.
2. Pork belly + cheese (Try this once!)
If you want to enjoy it differently, I recommend eating it with mozzarella cheese.
The rich and soft mozzarella cheese maximizes the rich flavor of the pork belly and creates an even richer flavor.
In particular, if you dip the crispy pork belly in melted cheese,
the soft texture of the cheese and the chewy texture of the pork belly come together to create a flavor similar to eating a cheeseburger.
If you want to enjoy it even more deliciously, melt mozzarella cheese on one side of the grill and serve it together.
When you dip the pork belly in the sizzling melted cheese, the savory flavor of the meat becomes even stronger and you can feel a richer flavor.
If you add spicy Cheongyang peppers or jalapenos, it will reduce the greasiness and create a harmony of savory and spicy flavors, making it even more delicious.
3. Samgyeopsal + Myeong-ina-mul (Recommended combination for meat lovers)
If you want to enjoy it more neatly and differently, I recommend eating it with Myeong-ina-mul.
Myeong-ina-mul has a unique salty and sour taste, which goes perfectly with fatty pork belly.
If you put the grilled pork belly on top of Myeong-ina-mul and roll it up and take a bite,
the rich flavor of the meat and the refreshing taste of Myeong-ina-mul will blend together, reducing the greasiness and doubling the savory flavor.
In particular, the more fat the pork belly has, the more it will go well with Myeong-ina-mul.
Eating fatty pork belly with Myeong-ina-mul will refresh your mouth while also providing a deep flavor,
so you can enjoy pork belly deliciously without getting tired of it.
4. Samgyeopsal + green onion rings (zero greasiness, refreshing taste!)
If you want to enjoy it more refreshingly, eating it with sweet and sour green onion rings is the way to go. Pajeol is a side dish made by mixing thinly sliced green onions with seasoning,
which cuts through the oiliness of the pork belly and leaves a clean aftertaste.
If you take a bite of the golden-grilled pork belly and add spicy and sour pajeol,
the richness of the meat and the refreshing taste of the pajeol combine to stimulate your appetite and cut down on the greasiness.
If you add finely chopped Cheongyang peppers, you can enjoy a spicy flavor, making it even more clean and addictive.
In particular, if you eat pork belly as a wrap and add pajeol, the sour and savory taste is added,
so you can feel a richer taste, and you can enjoy pork belly deliciously until the end without getting tired of it.
Pork belly is even more delicious when you know how to eat it!
Pork belly is delicious no matter when you eat it, but if you choose it properly, grill it well, and combine it perfectly, the taste increases several times. If you've ever wondered, "Why doesn't my pork belly turn out like at a restaurant?",
Let's master everything from how to choose meat to how to grill it, and how to eat it deliciously!
A great tip to enjoy perfectly crispy pork belly on the outside and inside at home!
Are you ready to confidently grill a plate of pork belly now?